TennesseeCAN Unveils New Website to Mark ‘New Education Era’ in the Volunteer State

TennesseeCAN launched a new website on Wednesday as the Volunteer State enters a “new education era,” the nonprofit organization announced.

Chelsea Crawford, Executive Director of TennesseeCAN, said the organization’s new website comes as Tennessee marks a pivotal point in its investments in education, pointing to the recent passage of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 and the governor’s proposed investments for education in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

“With the 114th General Assembly’s passage of the Education Freedom Act, and $580 million in new investments proposed by Governor Bill Lee for our students, Tennessee is ensuring students have an even brighter and more promising future by both strengthening public schools and expanding school choice for families,” Crawford said.

The Education Freedom Act, which passed the Tennessee General Assembly during a special legislative session last month, makes 20,000 Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) worth around $7,300 available for Tennessee students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

In addition to Tennessee’s investment in universal school choice, Governor Bill Lee is proposing a $580 million investment in the state’s public schools in his 2025-2026 budget – $198.4 million of which would go towards providing Tennessee teachers with a $2,000 bonus and $244 million of which would invest in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement.

“It’s an exciting time for education policy in Tennessee, and while we have a new look, TennesseeCAN’s focus remains the same – what’s best for kids,” Crawford added.

TennesseeCAN, according to its website, “empowers local stakeholders—from parents and community members to policymakers—to advocate for smart K-12 education policies that put Tennessee students first.”

“We believe every student should have access to great teachers and a great school that ensures they graduate high school academically prepared for lifelong success,” the organization writes on its new website.

The Nashville-based organization first launched in the state in 2011 as StudentsFirst Tennessee.

TennesseeCAN’s new website can be explored at tn-can.org.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Using a Laptop” by Brian Kerrigan CC3.0.